How The H-1B Visa Fee Hike Could Reshape US Financial Institutions' GCC Strategies In India?

India is rapidly evolving to become the core of global financial services operations. With over 1,700 global capability centres (GCCs) already established, a considerable number of leading US financial corporations prefer India, citing the country's cohesive system, which combines robust infrastructure with plug-and-play digital platforms, a diverse high-skilled talent pool, supportive policies, and legal and compliance maturity.

These centres, previously observed as extensions for back-office or support functions, now manage high-value missions such as risk management, artificial intelligence (AI)-infused transformation, compliance, and digital transformation.

The latest development in US immigration policy is set to further tilt this balance in India's favour. Effective September 21, 2025, a new fee of USD 100,000 will be levied on all new H-1B visa petitions, as stipulated in the latest presidential announcement. This fee, however, applies only to new applicants seeking to obtain an H-1B visa.

Existing H-1B visa holders and those applying for renewals will be exempt from this fee. Intended to protect domestic jobs, the move has instead triggered a strategic rethink among American financial firms, especially those with large-scale offshore operations in India.

India's GCCs Move from Support to Strategy

For decades, the H-1B visa has been the backbone of cross-border staffing for financial services and technology firms, facilitating the transfer of specialised talent in areas such as data science, infrastructure management, software development, and cybersecurity.

With the new one-time fee significantly raising the cost of hiring fresh foreign professionals, financial institutions are expected to look inward, toward India's maturing GCC ecosystem, for continuity and growth.

"Despite the changes, India's advantages are clear. With a strong STEM foundation and a large pool of skilled talent, the country has become a powerhouse for GCCs—already employing more than 1.9 million professionals. Moreover, they are effectively delivering core operations, along with technology-driven services, to Fortune 500 companies," said Unnikrishnan Anilkumar, COO, Expleo India.

While the GCC market is projected to grow to USD 105 billion by 2030, with nearly 2,400 centres in operation, India's stature as a global delivery hub is poised to strengthen.

"By the end of the decade, GCC employment is expected to reach 2.8 million. This will lay emphasis on the sustained global confidence in India's skilled talent and its ability to deliver high-value innovation," commented Unnikrishnan Anilkumar, COO, Expleo India.

Many firms are expected to localise leadership and decision-making roles as this will shift away from the conventional model that relied heavily on visa-dependent staff rotations.

A Balanced Future for Global Financial Technology Operations

The rise of Indian GCCs amid US policy tightening underscores a broader rebalancing of global delivery models.

"Banks as well as other financial institutions are likely to channel more investment into learning, skilling, and technology infrastructure in their Indian hubs, ensuring continuity without depending excessively on US-based mobility. The prime focus will be on generating value through research, AI, and data analytics, rather than pursuing cost arbitrage alone," said Unnikrishnan Anilkumar.

Nevertheless, this shift presents novel challenges. Expanding critical roles in India necessitates robust governance frameworks, adherence to global compliance norms, and the protection of sensitive data. GCCs that succeed will be those that integrate innovation with accountability.

As a result, this will ensure regulatory and operational resilience while supporting global business continuity.

Conclusion

Overall, the USD 100,000 H-1B fee may aim to protect US jobs, but it could ultimately strengthen India's position in global finance and other sectors as well. For US financial institutions, this shift refers to greater agility along with a clear competitive edge through talent-rich, tech-enabled operations based in India. Even as AI scales, it's India's human expertise within GCCs that will power the next era of financial innovation and resilience.